The Shorter Socratic Writings: Apology of Socrates to the Jury, Oeconomicus, and Symposium (Agora Editions)

Description

This book presents translations of three dialogues Xenophon devoted to the life and thought of his teacher, Socrates. Each is accompanied by notes and an interpretative essay that will introduce new readers to Xenophon and foster further reflection in those familiar with his writing. "Apology of Socrates to the Jury" shows how Socrates conducted himself when he was tried on the capital charge of not believing in the city's gods and corrupting the young. Although Socrates did not secure his own acquittal, he profoundly impressed some listeners who then helped to shape the public perception of philosophy as a noble, if highly idiosyncratic, way of life. In "Oeconomicus," Xenophon relates the conversation Socrates had on the day he turned from the study of natural philosophy to that of moral and political matters. "Oeconomicus" is concerned most directly with the character and purpose of Socrates' political philosophy. Xenophon provides entertaining portraits of Socrates' circle of friends in the "Symposium." In the process, he conveys the source of every individual's pride in himself, thus defining for each a conception of human excellence or virtue. The dialogue concludes with Socrates' beautiful speech on love (eros) and its proper place in the good or happy life.

About Author

Wayne Ambler is Associate Professor and Director of the Herbst Program of Humanities at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Eric Buzzetti is Associate Professor in the Liberal Arts College of Concordia University, Montreal. Robert C. Bartlett is the Behrakis Professor of Hellenic Political Studies at Boston College. He is author of The Idea of Enlightenment: A Postmortem Study, translator of "Protagoras" and "Meno," editor of Xenophon's The Shorter Socratic Writings and of Pierre Bayle's Various Thoughts on the Occasion of a Comet, and coeditor of Action and Contemplation: Studies in the Moral and Political Philosophy of Aristotle.